US officials have confirmed that President Donald Trump, is
ready to approve the sale of high-tech aircraft to Nigeria, to help with the
fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
According to AP News, Congress is expected to be formally
notified within weeks, to set in a motion a deal with Nigeria that the Obama
administration did not sign off on.
The West African nation is to purchase up to 12 Embraer A-29
Super Tucano aircraft with sophisticated targeting gear for nearly $600
million.
Officials were not authorized to discuss the terms of the
sale publicly and requested anonymity to speak.
Nigeria has been trying to buy the aircraft since 2015.
In Trump’s first phone call with Buhari in February this
year, he “assured the Nigerian president of US readiness to cut a new deal in
helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.”
“President Trump expressed support for the sale of aircraft
from the United States to support Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram,” a White
House statement said on February 15, providing a summary of the call between
the two leaders.
By Ifreke Inyang
